lou5 baan2老闆老板
Jyutpinglou5 baan2
Yalelóuh báan
Definition
Boss, employer, proprietor, or shopkeeper.
- employer; boss
- shopkeeper; proprietor; owner of a small business
- majority shareholder or owner of a large corporation
Example
ngo5我lou5老baan2闆deoi3對ngo5我hou2好hou2好。
ngo5我lou5老baan2板deoi3对ngo5我hou2好hou2好。
My boss treats me very well.
colloquialworkpeople
How it's used
Used to address or refer to anyone in a position of authority over one's work, including small business owners and corporate executives. It is common to add the surname before the title, such as 陳老闆, to show respect while maintaining a professional distance. In casual conversation, it can even be used as a friendly, slightly ironic way to address a friend who is taking charge of a situation.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
My boss is treating us to a meal today, so happy.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 經理, which specifically refers to a manager. While a manager might be your boss, the term 老闆 implies ownership or ultimate decision-making power within the business.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
